Method for imparting coloration to a textile yarn

ABSTRACT

Textile yarn which has been knitted into a tube and which is subsequently to be deknitted is advanced along a predetermined path of travel while dyestuff is freely dribbled thereonto from a nozzle overlying the path of travel. The tube is then passed through rolls which press the tube flat and force differential migration of the dyestuff and is immediately passed into and through a heated zone for setting the dyestuff on the yarn.

United States Patent [191 DeVinney [111 3,828,405 51 Aug. 13, 1974 METHOD FOR IMPARTING COLORATION TO A TEXTILE YARN [76] Inventor: George L. DeVinney, PO. Box 182,

Rutherfordton, NC. 28139 [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 296,977

[52] US. Cl 28/72.l6, 28/75 R, 118/315 [51] Int. Cl D04b 19/00 [58] Field of Search 28/75 R, 72.16; 101/37,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1970 Whitaker..... 28/72.l6 6/1972 Newton 118/315 X Primary Examiner-I 7ouis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT Textile yarn which has been knitted into a tube and which is' subsequently to be deknitted is advanced along a predetermined path of travel while dyestuff is freely dribbled thereonto from a nozzle overlying the path of travel. The tube is then passed through rolls which press the tube flat and force differential migration of the dyestuff and is immediately passed into and through a heated zone for setting the dyestuff on the. yarn.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED I 31974 TAKE-UP OVEN METHOD FOR IMPARTING COLORATION TO A TEXTILE YARN One of the previously used approaches to imparting to a textile yarn coloration which varies along the length of the yarn includes the steps of knitting the yarn into a tube, applying dyestuffs to the knitted tube and subsequently deknitting the tube. Conventionally, such approaches have relied upon printing of dyestuffs onto the tube and have resulted in generally uniform coloration of those portions of the yarn which receive dyestuffs. Thus, while variation in coloration along the length of the yarn is obtained, such variation falls into patterns determined by the printing apparatus employed.

It is an object of the present invention to facilitate improved randomization of color variation along the yarn in a process which includes the steps of knitting the yarn into a tube prior to the application of dyestuff and subsequently deknitting the tube. In realizing this object of the present invention, practices are followed which distribute dyestuff to the yarn in a less uniform and less predictably varying manner, as to the running length of yarn, than has heretofore been accomplish.

- Yet a further object of this invention is the processing of textile yarn by handing a knitted tube of the yarn in a running length, so that continuous processing is readily accomplished while improved randomization of color variation along the yarn is facilitated. In accomplishing this object of the present invention, apparatus is provided for receiving and advancing a knitted tube on a substantially continuous running length basis, while dribbling dyestuff thereonto and forcing differential migration of the dyestuff to various surfaces of the tube.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic, block diagram representation of the method and apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation view of a portion of an apparatus in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a knitted tube in accordance with this invention being deknitted to deliver a colored yarn in accordance with this invention.

While the following description will be directed to the best mode presently contemplated for the practice of this invention, it is recognized that certain variations in detail may be adopted while continuing the practice of the essence of this invention. For that reason, the description which follows is to be read broadly and not as limiting or restricting the scope of this invention.

It has heretofore been the practice, in certain yarn dyeing or coloring procedures, to knit a yarn to be dyed into a tube or sleeve such as the tube generally indicated at in the drawing. Knitting of the tube 10 from any suitable yarn may proceed in accordance with known practices, through the use of cylindrical knitting machines of known type. In accordance with the present invention, the coloration of the dyeing of the yarn ll knitted into the tube is accomplished in a particularly productive manner and while facilitating randomization of coloration effects by handling the tube 10 as a running length. In particular, the tube 10 is passed as a running length through a dyeing step, through a heat set zone as defined by an oven and to a take-up (FIG. 1). Thereafter, the tube 10 may be deknitted on a conventional winder, to package the running length of yarn for any subsequent use or processing step.

In accordance with this invention, the tube 10 is advanced along a predetermined path of travel (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). Overlying the predetermined path of travel are nozzle means preferably including a plurality of nozzles generally indicated at 13, 14 and 15. Each of the nozzles is supplied with dyestuff, as by being connected through a corresponding conduit means 17, 18, 19 with a corresponding reservoir or container 21, 22, 23. Desirably, appropriate valves 25, 26, 27 are provided for controlling the flow of dyestuff from the corresponding reservoir to the corresponding nozzle.

Upon dyestuff being permitted to flow from the corresponding reservoir to the nozzle, as from the reservoir 21 to the nozzle 13, the dyestuff freely dribbles downwardly by gravity onto the upper surface of the tube 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

In accordance with an important feature of this invention, press means are arranged adjacent the location at which dye dribbles onto the tube 10 for forcing differential migration of the dyestuff into the tube. In particular, a set of press rolls 28, 29 are positioned immediately adjacent the location at which dyestuff dribbles from the nozzle 13 onto the sleeve 10. On passage of the tube 10 between the press rolls 28, 29, the dyestuff is forced to migrate into the tube 10 by the pressure of the press rolls. In particular, the force exerted on the tube 10 on the same passing between the press rolls 28, 29 causes dyestuff to pass through the yarn which forms the tube 10 from the uppermost surface of the tube to the inner tube walls and to the lower surface of the tube. Due to the coordination of the press force with the viscosity of the dyestuff, such migration of the dyestuff is differential. That is, a greater quantity of dyestuff remains on the uppermost surface of the tube than is present on the inner tube walls. Further, the quantity of dyestuff which reaches the lower surface of the tube is less than that to be found on either of the inner tube walls. Finally, the quantity of dyestuff to be found on the lower inner tube wall is less than that to be found on the upper inner tube wall. Thus, considering the flattened tube to define four wall surfaces, in-

cremental variations in the quantities of dyestuff reacha ing each of the four surfaces may be observed. As a result, incremental portions of yarn exposed to dyestuff at these four surfaces receive incrementally varying colorations. Such color variation facilitates randomization of effect along the length of the yarn after the same is deknitted from the tube 10.

While a yarn acceptable for some applications may be developed through the dribbling of a single color of dyestuff in a substantially straight line extending longitudinally of the tube 10, it has been noted that improved randomization of coloration may be facilitated by at least two further variations in accordance with this invention. First, a plurality of colors may be applied through the free dribbling of a plurality of dyestuff, as provided for by the presence of a plurality of nozzles l3, l4, 15. Further, each of the nozzles l3, l4, 15 may if desired be reciprocated transversely of the tube 10. An arrangement for accomplishing such reciprocation of the nozzle 13 is illustrated in FIG. 3, where the nozzle is mounted in a pendulum bar 30 suspended from parallel links 31, 32. By means of a suitable drive motor 34 connected with the pendulum bar 30 by an eccentric crank 35 and a drive link 36, reciprocation or oscillation of the nozzle 13 is accomplished and the dyestuff is dribbled onto the tube in a sinuous line having a predetermined amplitude and frequency. Clearly, the other nozzles l4, may be similarly suspended and driven, at the same or differing rates. Additionally, by interruption of the drive of the associated drive motors, the dyestuff may be dribbled onto the tube 10 in a substantially straight line positioned at a desired location widthwise of the flattened tube 10.

By the association of pairs of press rolls 38, 39 and 40, 41 with the other nozzles l4, 15, similar forced migration of dyestuff supplied by those nozzles is obtained. While a plurality of sets of press rolls have been illustrated, it is contemplated by the present invention that a single stand of a multiplicity of press rolls may follow the plurality of nozzles, to force migration of all dyestuff substantially simultaneously.

In accordance with this invention, the tube 10 passes directly from the dye applying apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3 into a heated zone as defined within an oven means. Further, common drive means are provided for driven rolls within the oven which exert a force on the tube 10 drawing it along its predetermined path of travel and the take-up which winds up the tube on the same issuing from the oven. By applying a common drive and a direct passage of the tube 10 to the oven, efficient handling of the tube 10 at a relatively high linear rate of travel is accomplished.

A tube 10 as received at the take-up is illustrated in FIG. 4, where the tube is shown to have three separate bands of dyestuff to have been applied thereto. By way of example, a first band of dyestuff 43 may impart a red color, while a second band of dyestuff 44 imparts a blue color and a third band of dyestufi 45 imparts a green color. The yarn 11 which is advanced for subsequent processing after deknitting of the tube 10 will have an effectively randomized color variation along its length, resulting from the relative placement of the dyestuff 43, 44 and 45 as well as from the forced differential migration of the dyestuff through the tube 10.

in the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a method of imparting to a textile yarn coloration which varies along the length of the yarn and including steps of knitting the yarn into a tube prior to application of dyestuff thereto and subsequently deknitting the tube, an improvement which facilitates improved randomization of color variation along the yarn comprising the steps of advancing a knitted tube of yarn longitudinally along a predetermined path while supplying a plurality of distinctive colorations of dyestuff to a corresponding plurality of longitudinally spaced apart nozzles overlying the predetermined path, freely dribbling dyestuff from the nozzles onto corresponding longitudinally spaced apart portions of the advancing tube while reciprocating each of the nozzles transversely of the tube for applying dyestuffs in a plurality of crossing and recrossing sinuous lines each approximating a sine curve of predetermined amplitude and frequency, then pressing the tube flat for forcing differential migration of dyestuff from the uppermost surface of the tube to the inner walls and the lower surface of the tube, and then passing the tube through a heated zone for setting the dyestuff on the yarn. 

1. In a method of imparting to a textile yarn coloration which varies along the length of the yarn and including steps of knitting the yarn into a tube prior to application of dyestuff thereto and subsequently deknitting the tube, an improvement which facilitates improved randomization of color variation along the yarn comprising the steps of advancing a knitted tube of yarn longitudinally along a predetermined path while supplying a plurality of distinctive colorations of dyestuff to a corresponding plurality of longitudinally spaced apart nozzles overlying the predetermined path, freely dribbling dyestuff from the nozzles onto corresponding longitudinally spaced apart portions of the advancing tube while reciprocating each of the nozzles transversely of the tube for applying dyestuffs in a plurality of crossing and recrossing sinuous lines each approximating a sine curve of predetermined amplitude and frequency, then pressing the tube flat for forcing differential migration of dyestuff from the uppermost surface of the tube to the inner walls and the lower surface of the tube, and then passing the tube through a heated zone for setting the dyestuff on the yarn. 